In 1902, a group of Indiana coal miners walked off the job for an unusual reason: the mules were not being treated properly.
The animals that hauled coal through the mines depended entirely on workers and operators for food and water, and conditions had apparently become bad enough that the miners refused to continue working.
The strike was brief, but effective.
After mine operators agreed in writing that the mules would be properly fed and watered before each day’s work, the miners returned to their jobs.
Mistreated Mine Mule
It was a small labor dispute, but one that showed the miners were willing to strike not only for themselves, but for the animals working underground beside them.
Indiana Miners Strike for the Mules
Strikers of the Montgomery Mines, who went out yesterday through sympathy for the mine mules, returned to work this morning.
The operators entered a written agreement that the mules should be properly fed and watered each day before going to work.
Source: The Spokane Press. Spokane, Wash. November 21, 1902.
